Mich. Admin. Code R. 460.2301

Current through Vol. 24-21, December 1, 2024

Section R. 460.2301 - Definitions

Rule 1. As used in these rules:

(a) "Approved by the commission" means that a commission order has been issued.

(b) "British thermal unit" means the quantity of heat that must be added to 1 avoirdupois pound of pure water to raise its temperature from 58.5 degrees Fahrenheit to 59.5 degrees Fahrenheit under standard pressure. Standard pressure is 30 inches mercury at 32 degrees Fahrenheit or 14.73 pounds per square inch absolute and with acceleration due to gravity equal to 32.174 feet per second per second.

(c) "Commission" means the Michigan public service commission.

(d) "Cubic foot of gas" means either of the following:

(i) For billing purposes, a standard cubic foot of gas is that quantity of dry gas that, at a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and an absolute pressure of 14.65 pounds per square inch, occupies 1 cubic foot. The commission may, however, approve a different absolute pressure base.

(ii) For testing purposes, such as testing for heating value, a standard cubic foot of gas is that quantity of gas that, when saturated with water vapor at a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and an absolute pressure of 14.73 pounds per square inch, occupies 1 cubic foot.

(e) "Customer" means an individual, firm, association, or corporation excluding other gas utilities, or any agency of the federal, state, county, or municipal government that purchases or otherwise receives gas or transportation services, or both, on the utility's system.

(f) "Hazardous condition" means any condition that the utility determines poses an immediate and serious threat to the health, safety, or welfare of a customer or the general public and that requires immediate action.

(g) "Meter" means a device owned by a utility that is used in measuring a quantity of gas.

(h) "Meter accuracy" means the volume that is measured by a meter as a percent of the actual volume that flowed through the meter as measured by a working standard.

(i) "Meter error" means a failure to accurately measure and record all of the natural gas used that is required by the applicable rate or rates.

(j) "Mixed gas" means a gas that is produced by mixing natural gas with any of the following:

(i) Air.

(ii) Inert gas.

(iii) Liquefied petroleum gas.

(iv) Other flammable gas.

(v) Substitute natural gas.

(k) "Premises" means an individual piece of land or real estate that is not separated by public roads, streets, or alleys, including buildings and other appurtenances on that land or real estate.

(l) "Potentially hazardous condition" means any condition that the utility determines has the potential to become a hazardous condition, but that does not require immediate action, including, but not limited to, any of the following:

(i) Customer failure to permit the utility to perform inspections and maintenance on the utility's facilities in or on the customers premises.

(ii) Customer alterations or modifications of the utility's facilities located in or on the customers premises.

(iii) Customer construction of a structure or appurtenance near or over the main, service line piping, or meter set assembly so that the utility's facilities are not in compliance with the provisions of R 460.20101 to R 460.20606 of the Michigan gas safety standards or the utility's standards.

(iv) Customer failure to correct or replace gas utilization equipment or gas fuel line piping that has been previously identified and classified as potentially hazardous by the utility.

(m) "Rate book" means the assembled rate schedules, rules, regulations, and standard forms of the utility as filed with the commission and available on the commissions website.

(n) "Required access" means access that is necessary to conduct any of the following:

(i) Routine inspections and maintenance.

(ii) Meter readings of gas usage.

(iii) Scheduled replacement, repairs, relocation, or disconnection of branch service lines or other changes with respect to service lines and meter assembly piping.

(o) "Substitute natural gas" means gas that is interchangeable and compatible with natural gas and that is manufactured from carbon and hydrogen-bearing materials.

(p) "Utility" means a person, firm, corporation, cooperative, association, or agency that is subject to the jurisdiction of the commission and that delivers or distributes and sells gas to the public for heating, power, or other residential, commercial, or industrial purposes.

Mich. Admin. Code R. 460.2301

1979 AC; 1993 AACS; 2020 MR 17, Eff. 9/3/2020